A Singapore Customs representative was a panellist at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Border Enforcement, sharing expertise on a whole-of-government approach and cooperation with rights holders.

Singapore Customs' Deputy Head of Operations Management Ng Chee Siong was a panellist for the session on Cooperation with Right Holders.

More than 42 IPR experts, including a Singapore Customs representative, from 21 APEC member economies took part in a three-day APEC Workshop on IPR Border Enforcement last November.

In addition to government officials, 11 representatives of IPR rights holders participated in the Workshop to enhance government-business communication and cooperation on IPR enforcement.

Singapore Customs' Deputy Head of Operations Management Ng Chee Siong was a panellist for the session on Cooperation with Right Holders. He shared Singapore's whole-of-government approach towards the creation, protection and enforcement of IPR. The approach involves the Singapore Police Force, the Ministry of Law and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

Held from 11 to 13 November 2014 in Hong Kong, China, the workshop provided APEC member economies with the opportunity to share experiences and best practices on IPR Border Enforcement, Investigation Techniques and Capabilities, Cooperation with Rights Holders, and Public Awareness.

They also visited the Intellectual Property Enforcement Research Centre and the Exhibition Gallery to have a better understanding of the development of IPR enforcement in Hong Kong, China and the history of the Hong Kong Customs.